“My heart it is racing, but afraid I am not”
“I’m going through a rough patch,” I told one of my best friends last night as we sipped our nightcaps after a great meal and a show at one of our favorite venues.…
“The moon stays bright when it doesn’t avoid the light”
When I set out to clean my apartment this morning, I never imagined the kinds of breakthroughs I would have while picking crud out of my dishwasher filter with a toothpick. It wasn’t…
My Very Grown-Up Birthday Wish List
On the eve of my 33rd birthday, I’ve been thinking a lot about presents, experiences, and the people in my life. One of my biggest goals over the past few years has been…
Hi, I’m Berrak and I get awkward crazy eyes when I meet celebrities
My very first comic con was in Seattle in 2013. I was struggling with adjusting to life in my new home, and I was beyond excited about comic con. The most exciting part?…
The Tomboy Grows Up to Cultivate Strong Female Allies
In the past few years, there’s been a significant shift in my personal life. For years, female friends (not so) subtly reinforced my belief that there’s something wrong with me. Today, I find…
The Girl Who Thanks Too Much
“You do say thank you an awful lot,” one of my best friends joked the other night. While I’ve been working on trying to stop being the one apologizing too much, I didn’t…
Breaking the Habit
I’m sick of the tension, sick of the hunger Sick of you acting like I owe you this Find another place to feed your greed While I find a place to rest I’m…
The Snort Heard Around the World
You know the drill. You’re standing in front of your classroom/office and you’re buck naked. I never had that anxiety dream. I also never pictured that I would stand on a stage in…
“I’m a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in”
Between panic attacks, hiding in my apartment, obsessively reading the news, and working, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the people in my life. There have been a few great heart-wrenching…
“You Can’t Drink Water?” and Other Questions about Ramadan
During the month of Ramadan, we fast every day from sunrise to sunset. It's a time of spiritual discipline, increased generosity, and it reminds us to be grateful for everything we have in…